Staging your home and properly preparing your home for open houses can have a big impact on your final sale price. The goal of home staging is to present your property in the best light, while making it easy for potential buyers to envisions themselves living in the space. There are many expert home staging companies, but trying to choose one on your own can be a challenge. You want a professional stager whose work has proven results. Your local, experience real estate agent can recommend which stagers they use and can connect you with the best professionals for your home. Your real estate agent may also be a great referral source for other home maintenance professionals who can help you prepare your home for sale like the best contractors, plumbers, electricians and window washers.Here are some home staging tips and ideas to get you started on making your house sell-ready:Declutter EverywhereAnd by declutter we mean move every single personal thing out of your place—knickknacks, kitschy decorations, souvenirs, tattered furniture. It all goes elsewhere for the sake of staging. When you look at knickknacks and collectibles you remember their sentimental value, but these items don't have the same impact on buyers who don't know you. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in your space and its easiest for that to happen if they don't see clothes in the closet, family photos and random tchotchkes.

Focus on Kitchens and BathroomsYour kitchen and bathrooms are key to the resale value of your home. Get these spaces thoroughly clean (maybe a maid service can go the extra mile here), expect prospective buyers to open cabinets and pantries so keep them under filled and organized, and think about how low cost upgrades could help these rooms. Maybe it's time for new cabinet knobs, new faucet fixtures or a new light.Knock Buyers' Socks off with Curb AppealDon't forget the exterior when staging your home. Replace any bad areas of grass with new sod. Add fresh top soil to flower beds. Consider potted plants for your porch or entrance. Trim bushes and trees to make your yard look neat and well maintained.Grow your space with MirrorsWell placed mirrors will make your living spaces look lighter, brighter and bigger just like magic. Put mirrors in places that help bounce sunlight around the walls.Don't forget your table mannersSimply setting the table can have a big affect on buyers. Seeing a nicely set table makes potential home buyers feel welcome. Similar effects can be achieved by using non-scented candles throughout the home, hanging nice hand towels in the bathrooms, setting a breakfast tray on the bed or putting a nice book on the coffee table.Play up LightOpen all window coverings all the way to allow people to better view your home in sunshine. Home buyers love big, bright rooms. Make sure your windows are clean inside and out and you've dusted your windowsills.Last but not least, Clean, then clean some moreA sparkling clean house gives buyers the impression your home has been well-maintained over the years. Knock down cobwebs, wipe counter tops, scrub grout, mop floors, wash light fixtures and repeat. Keep the space fresh and clean until it sells; a one-time cleaning won't be enough. You may want to consider hiring a weekly cleaning service once your house is staged. If it shortens your selling time, it’s money well spent.

Mid-Century Modern is an architectural style that generally describes modern designs that emerged following World War II and continued in development until the 1960s. Now recognized as a significant design movement, it is accepted as having several major influences that helped create its timeless style. Many consider the movement in America a reflection of the International and Bauhaus movements in Europe, led by Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is also seen as a major influence, training architects like Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler. Names like Joseph Eichler, John Entenza, George Fred Keck, his brother Willam Keck and Henry P. Glass were also instrumental in bringing the style to different parts of the country. Mid-Century design was frequently deployed in the architecture of the American post-war suburbs. It is characterized by flat planes, clean lines, large glass windows and open spaces and floor plans. While the style is easily distinguishable from other architectural styles, functionality is also a critical component, as average American families of the post-war era were the target of the movement. The modern designs of the movement were not only sleek and minimalist, but with an eye on being functional for the average family. Here are some key elements:

While there are many examples of Mid-Century Modern throughout the United States, many of the most historic examples reside in Southern California. Classic examples can be found in communities like Silver Lake, the Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, Palm Springs, Bel-Air, Pacific Palisades, Encino and Studio City, among many others.

More than 50 million Americans today live in condominiums, homeowner associations, cooperatives and other planned communities. Being part of a community association offers homeowners many benefits and amenities, but is something to consider before buying a home or estate within a gated community. A Homeowners Association (HOA), is a legal entity created to maintain common areas. These are often the most affordable way to own a home, especially for first-time homebuyers. When deciding whether to enter into one of these "gated communities" you should make the following considerations. 1. The first thing to ask is whether the home that catching your eye is part of a community association. If so, your real estate agent will obtain copies of the governing documents Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R), for you to read through carefully. 2. Recognize that member homeowners agree to comply with all governing documents. In tangible terms, these rules apply to architectural guidelines like additions, decks and paint colors, landscaping, maintenance, satellite dishes, fences, parking, pets and more. 3. Get a visual of how these rules and restrictions are actualized within the community by taking a stroll through the neighborhood. Pay attention to how the common grounds are maintained, what parking is like, and what conditions the homes are in. 4. Ask to talk to a member of the elected board or the president of the association. They will be able to give you reasoning behind the governing documents and answer any questions about how they would apply to you. Also talk to people who live in the community. Find out how they feel about abiding by their community's rules and restrictions. 5. Examine the association budget carefully. This budget sets the level of assessments and services available to the entire community. Understand that these assessments are mandatory homeowner dues that must be paid or you risk legal action taken against your property. Look for a reserve fund within the budget that will cover major expenditures, like roof replacements or the resurfacing of private roads. If there is not a reserve fund, then the association will likely impose special assessments on member households - a potentially expensive, unanticipated expense. 6. After examining the CC&R and budget, make sure the home you are looking to buy is not already out of compliance with HOA rules. Failing to do so can result in larger, more expensive issues down the road. 7. If you are environmentally conscious, assess the environmental practices stated in the CC&R. Some communities require the use of fertilizers, pesticides, sprinkler systems and other tools to keep your property in line with community standards. 8. Ultimately, be realistic. Homeowner associations have many benefits and advantages, such as well maintained public spaces and stronger communities. However these associations face the difficult task of pleasing all participating members. This includes potentially controversial community issues, which ultimately requires judgement and decision-making by the elected officials. Ask yourself how you will react when given rules that you do not particularly like or enjoy.

Is it time for a new wall color in your house? In your favorite paint store you can find Sweet Pear, Mossy Evergreen and Clover Field paint colors all with the intention of making your house feel more "natural." But before you go flipping through an endless sea of color palettes, consider these 7 innovative green ideas—that go far beyond color—that are making an impact in architecture today. 1. Green Walls Considering the issue of new wall paint, the only thing that will get you closer to nature is an actual green wall. A green wall is simply a wall that is covered in vegetation. These can range from the classic ivy you see growing up the side of a city building, to the specially designed living walls you can see inside the house of an adventurous resident. Being that most North Americans spend 80-90% of time indoors, the major priority benefit to incorporating a green wall into your home will be the improved air quality and energy efficiency. This is because a living wall will trap a layer of air within the plant mass, which in turn limits the movement of heat and wind between building walls. (http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/about/green-wall-benefits) 2. Rooftop Gardens For some people, going green doesn't stop at the ceiling. Rooftop gardens are gaining popularity in urban areas where any amount of deck or patio space is a luxury. Green roofs can act like urban backyards, covering the entire roof space of a building and made available to the public. It provides an escape from the concrete jungle below, and has been shown to provide many mental and physical benefits to its users. (http://dornob.com/rooftop-deck-designs-8-great-urban-green-roof-gardens/#axzz2YffnTU00) 3. Vertical Farming Taking rooftop gardening to the next level is the concept of "vertical" or "high-rise" farming. Think of a skyscraper full of tomato plants. In order to combat rising global population, the dream of scientists and architects is to grow crops ranging from produce to staple foods in high-rise buildings. While it remains a dream today, the concept is already being implemented on a smaller scale with community gardens, urban farms (see how a Tokyo corporation grows food for its employees here: http://inhabitat.com/pasona-hq-is-an-urban-farm-that-grows-food-for-its-employees-in-tokyo/pasona-hq-kono-designs-11/?extend=1) and our next topic: Pinkhouses. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/06/090630-farm-towers-locally-grown_2.html) 4. Natural light and heat regulation Green architecture also combats issues regarding heat. The Reichstag is Germany's parliament building that was retrofitted in 1999 to create more natural lighting. Designed by Norman Foster of London, the new dome uses glass and mirrors which reflects daylight throughout the main chamber. This system also helps to ventilate heating within the building. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/pictures/120726-green-tech-city-building-solutions-urban-heat-island/#/city-solutions-green-buildings-german-parliament_57162_600x450.jpg) 5. Highly efficient modular construction Design company Perkins+Will have created a cutting edge K-12 education building in Washington, DC, called Sprout Space. This building will provide a healthy learning environment to its students through its "high-performance, healthy and modular classroom." These rooms incorporate an integrated rainwater collection system, photovoltaic roof panels, and highly efficient heating and cooling systems. The end result will be an environment more conducive to learning through modular construction and school design. At this school, playing outside isn't just for recess.(http://www.perkinswill.com/news/sprout-space-modular-construction-summit.html) 6. Shipping container living What happens to all those old shipping containers retired from sea? The New York based architecture firm LOT-EK has taken these old containers out of retirement by constructing new buildings with them. One of their clients in the Taichung City Cultural Center in western Taiwan who will soon have a new public library and fine arts museum made out of 1,620 shipping containers. (http://inhabitat.com/lot-ek-unveils-plans-for-solar-taichung-cultural-center-made-from-1620-recycled-shipping-containers/) 7. The Tiny House Movement Last but technically not least, the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is making its impact in the field of architecture under the philosophy of "less is more." The company designs and creates building plans for inexpensive, energy-efficient homes smaller than 120 square feet. These impressive abodes include an office with a desk, fireplace, two comfy chairs, a sleeping space, a small kitchen and dining space. What it doesn't include is the expensive energy bills; none of these homes built in California have consumed more than $70 in energy a year! (http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/678735/list/Houzz-Tour--A-Tiny--Happy--Eco-Friendly-Home)

Looking out over the Pacific Ocean, amid a lush garden and surrounded by trees, Wayfarers Chapel resides in Rancho Palos Verdes. Made almost entirely of glass, the chapel allows visitors to look through its walls and take in all the nature surrounding it, including the ocean view. Whether religious or not, the beauty of Wayfarers Chapel is for everyone to experience.Completed in 1951, Wayfarers Chapel is the work of Lloyd Wright, son of pioneering architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s attributes were inspired by the theology of the Swedenborgian Church (which it is sponsored by) that focuses on connecting God’s natural world and the inner world of mind and spirit.Wright saw the trees of the redwood forest and wanted to create a “tree chapel.” While it is known as the “glass church,” the trees surrounding the chapel are a very prominent feature and are seen through the glass, forming living walls and a roof.It is called “wayfarers” as an attribute to the travelers who could come and rest here. Originally, when there weren’t freeways and easy road access, the travel to this church could take an entire day. It is still applicable today even though it is more easily accessed, since we are all traveler’s to get to the church. As Reverend Harvey Tafel says, we are also all traveler’s on the journey of life.The chapel performs weddings, baptisms, and other services along with worship services. In addition, they have a garden and visitor’s center for anyone that would like to stop by and see the chapel, taking in all the beauty that resides in and around it.